Climate Justice and Energy Campaigner

Climate Justice and Energy Campaigner

FoEE – Friends of the Earth Europe

Brussels, Belgium

Friends of the Earth Europe is seeking a Climate Justice and Energy Campaigner – community energy.

Deadline: Sunday May 30^th 2021 (Start date: ideally 1^st July)

Based in: Friends of the Earth Europe office, Brussels

Are you eager to build Europe’s people-powered renewable energy future? Are you passionate about climate justice and have a flair for smart, strategic campaigning? Do you want to be part of a talented team campaigning for a socially-fair energy transition with Friends of the Earth in Brussels? Then this job is for you!

Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns at the heart of Europe for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. We are the largest grassroots environmental network in Europe, uniting 32 national organisations with thousands of local groups, as part of Friends of the Earth International. Our vision is of a peaceful and sustainable world, founded on social, economic, racial, gender and environmental justice and free from all forms of domination and exploitation.

We are looking for a campaigner who will work as a member of the climate justice team. If successful you will lead FoE Europe’s work on community energy, part of our campaign for a fossil free Europe.

FoE Europe is embarking on an exciting new phase of its campaigning on community energy. A growing movement of communities and citizens want to take part in the energy system and new policies and laws are starting to recognize and support community energy. The democratic engagement of citizens and communities in the energy transition is vital to ensure the energy transition is fair and fast.

FoE Europe has been campaigning on community energy since 2013 and will continue to support and strengthen the growing community energy movement. Can you help us take this campaign to the next level? We campaign with FoE Europe member groups, both inside and outside the EU and work closely with allies in Brussels and at the national level.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop FoEE’s policies, expertise and strategies on community energy, and lead advocacy work on community energy;
• Develop and implement campaign activities in close cooperation with other members of the climate justice and energy team;
• Support, facilitate and serve the European Community Power Coalition which we co-ordinate;
• Support and strengthen the European community energy movement including supporting FoEE member groups in their work to support community energy;
• Engage with the international Energy Democracy movement;
• Coordinate activities and strategies with key allies;
• Produce press releases and diverse online (social media) and offline communication materials like briefings, reports, studies, blog articles, infographics, videos, and op-eds, in close cooperation with communications colleagues and keep the FoEE and Community Power website’s up to date;
• Use social media effectively and creatively;
• Represent FoEE externally, including to the media and at external events;
• Carry out and deliver on annual planning, budgeting and fundraising;
• Maintain an overview of the key relevant research, events and policy developments;
• Report to and advise the coordinator of the Climate Justice and Energy team on the campaign;
• Contribute to development of strategy and tactics of the Climate Justice and Energy program beyond the specific campaign on community energy;
• The campaigner will report to and be task managed by the coordinator of the Climate Justice and Energy team.

Essential requirements:

• Strong commitment to, and passion to match, the values, vision and mission of Friends of the Earth Europe;
• A minimum of three years’ experience in working with an NGO, preferably at EU or international level including advocacy work and campaigning on energy and/or climate issues;
• Experience working in diverse coalitions with diverse members with differing needs and interests;
• Experience in managing campaigns including the various responsibilities involved (such as fundraising and reporting, research, planning, lobbying, communications);
• Experience in dealing with stakeholders from different backgrounds: such as decision-makers, NGOs, grassroots groups, researchers, media, etc.;
• Experience in project management including proven ability to effectively adjust plans to rapidly changing circumstances;
• Good understanding of European energy and/or climate policy;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, knowledge of other European working languages is a distinct advantage.;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Motivation to exchange with and learn from colleagues;
• Ability to think out of the box and find new creative ways to campaign;
• Ability to attend occasional evening/weekend meetings and undertake travel, mainly within Europe.

We offer:

A salary between Euro 2,879 and 3,580 gross per month, depending on experience.

FoE Europe offers an attractive benefits package, including a 13^th month salary, lunch vouchers, an additional 5 days of holidays per year, pension scheme, hospitalisation and comprehensive travel insurance. We also offer full coverage of train travel in case of commuting within Belgium. FoE Europe offers a motivating working environment in an international NGO and office located in an environmentally-friendly NGO building. We offer the position for a year. Dependent on funding it is intended to continue the post beyond the 12-month period.

Conditions are according to Belgian legislation; hence the position is open solely to persons with the right to live and work in the EU.

Friends of the Earth Europe actively welcomes candidates of all descriptions, regardless of age, sexual orientation, marital status, wealth, religious, philosophical or political beliefs, language, present or future state of health, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, gender, pregnancy, parental status, change of sex, nationality, race, skin colour, ancestry, nationality, descent, national or ethnic or social origin. FoE Europe strives to make our office as diverse as possible.

Currently, the position is online and can be done remotely, but when Covid-19 measures ease it is assumed you will join us in Brussels in the FoEE office.

To apply:

Send your motivation letter (maximum 2 pages), and CV summarising your experience – education, employment, activism, volunteering, relevant lived experience, etc (maximum 3 pages, no photos please) by midnight May 30^th 2021 at the latest to: [email protected].

Interviews are scheduled for the week of June 7^th 2021. FoEE will store your application and all corresponding data for a period of 6 months after the job advert closes. If you would like us to keep your CV and application letter on file, please indicate this in your email.

Only candidates selected for the test and interviews will be contacted – thank you for your understanding.